The punk-rock infusion of Fest 11

Published: Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 12:34 p.m.

It's that time again.

Facts

The Fest 11

What: Three-day multi-venue music event with 360 bands including Anti-Flag, Propagandhi, Streetlight Manifesto and many othersWhen: Friday through Sunday, see www.thefestfl.com for full schedule.Where: The Florida Theater of Gainesville, 8 Seconds, High Dive, The Atlantic, 1982, Loosey's, Civic Media Center, The Lunchbox, Durty Nelly's Pub, The Laboratory, Rocky's Piano Bar, The New Top Spot and Boca Fiesta/Palomino.Tickets: Remaining weekend passes are $125 in person and cash only at Video Rodeo and Hear Again Music and Movies if available; limited number of walk-up tickets for individual shows for sale weekend of $10-$25 if available.Info: TheFestFl.com

This weekend the hoards of orange and blue that normally crowd the sidewalks of University Avenue will give way to a sea of black, as music fans from across the globe travel to Gainesville for the Fest 11, a three-day festival of punk rock music and culture.

This year's Fest boasts performances from 360 bands in 13 venues Friday through Sunday. Tony Weinbender, who has organized the Fest since its inception in 2002, says his hand-picked lineup includes bands from Australia, Austria, Greece and the United Kingdom, in addition to the 30 Gainesville bands set to perform.

“If you really think you love music, here's a chance to see 360 bands from all over the world in three days,” he says.

Headliners include Pittsburgh punk activists Anti-Flag, the Canadian punk band Propagandhi and the ska-influenced Streetlight Manifesto. Weinbender says this year's goal was to include as many bands as possible who have yet to play the Fest, and as always, to showcase new talent.

“Something we like to do is have new bands. You never know — a couple years from now they could be Against Me! or Less than Jake,” he says.

Bands will perform at downtown venues such as the Florida Theatre, Boca Fiesta, High Dive, The Atlantic, 8 Seconds and The New Top Spot, a large-capacity venue at 30 N. Main St. Construction on the venue was recently completed to accommodate Fest performances. Fest passes are $125, but each show will have a limited number of walk-up tickets available for non-attendees. Free shows will be held Saturday at noon at Loosey's and Saturday from 12:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lunchbox in the Bo Diddley Community Plaza.

In addition to live music, the Fest will host a flea market Friday afternoon at the Holiday Inn University Center, along with a comedy showcase Sunday at Rockeys Piano Bar titled “An Evening of Air-Conditioned Talking with Special Guests,” and an art show at Display, 439 S. Main St. The gallery will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and it will feature art from 12 artists and the Brooklyn collective D/A Doom Crew.

Edie Snyder, curator of the Fest 11 Art Show, says the goal of the show is to highlight art associated with Fest music. Graphic artist Derek Deal has designed art for bands like Anti-Flag, and artist-musician-cult personality David Liebe Hart of “Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job” fame will both perform with the David Liebe Hart Band and display his paintings and drawings at the gallery.

Snyder says since admission to the gallery is free, it's a place where both attendees and non-attendees can enjoy the surge of culture Fest weekend brings to town.

“This is the one event the public can take part in,” she says. “This is the easiest way that a broad group of people can participate in the Fest.”

Weinbender says he expects an influx of 8,000 people over the course of the weekend, which he predicts will boost Gainesville's economy in a time when it's most needed.

“It's Florida-Georgia weekend,” he says. “I think people have forgotten how it used to be, because the Fest has been growing. It used to be dead and businesses didn't make any money.”

Shawn Sheppard, owner of Vellos Brickstreet Grill and president of the Gainesville Downtown Owners and Tenants Association, says Fest weekend is a profitable one for local restaurants and hotels.

“Florida-Georgia weekend usually drains the local economy. But the Fest more than fills that gap. It influxes millions of dollars into our local economy. Our hotels are booked when they'd normally be empty,” he says.

Sheppard says the Fest shows visitors a side of Gainesville that many aren't aware of.

“Gainesville is typically associated with UF,” he says. “The Fest showcases our downtown, our restaurants, our venues and our hospitality. It's a great weekend and we look forward to it.”

Ben Tobias, public information officer for the Gainesville Police Department, says the Fest is yet another source of pride for Gainesville's community.

“Having Gainesville being known as home of the Fest is exciting for us,” he says. “We enjoy having that distinction.”

Weinbender says he refers to the Fest as a “punk rock family reunion” because of the close bonds forged among those who attend the festival.

“People meet at the Fest and come back every year to hang out,” he says. “The people that come here truly love the bands they came to see. The Fest attendees are the best kind of attendees.”

For a complete list of performances and to buy tickets, see www.thefestfl.com.

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